South Africa Slang Dictionary

South African slang is a rich, multilingual mix that borrows freely from the country's eleven official languages - isiZulu, isiXhosa, Afrikaans, Sesotho and more - plus street languages like tsotsitaal and Sepitori. It's the language of the townships, the taxi rank, kwaito and amapiano, and everyday Mzansi life from Joburg to Cape Town to Durban. Words like eish, howzit, lekker, sharp sharp and yebo are woven into how South Africans speak every day. Explore the community-built dictionary of South African slang below - and add the words you know.

Inyathi is a Xhosa and Zulu word for a buffalo.
Example

Inyathi ibuzwa kwabayaziyo.

Khingh 21 September 2025
Ingwe in a Xhosa and Zulu word for a leopard.
Example

Ingwe idla ngamabala.

Khingh 21 September 2025
Umgxobhozo yindawo echifichifi ngenxa yodaka namanzi, emva kokuba kunethe imvula ngamandla.

In English umgxobhozo is a swamp.
Example

Ngenxa yokuqhuba amatakane, uyise kaThando uthe dyumpu emgxobhozweni.

Khingh 21 September 2025
Intusi sisithetha-ntonye sobisi. Intusi is Milk in isiXhosa dialect.
Example

Intusi yesizwe isengwa ezinkomeni zelali.

Khingh 21 September 2025
Lord Kambala Day in South African football circles refers to September 5, 2020, a day etched in PSL (Premier Soccer League) history when Manuel 'Lord’ Kambala, playing for Baroka FC, scored a crucial equalizer against Kaizer Chiefs. That goal denied Chiefs the league title on the final day of the 2019/20 season, handing the championship to Mamelodi Sundowns instead. This singular moment earned Kambala the nickname "Lord Kambala" and immortalized his contribution to South African football lore.
Example

Happy Lord Kambala Day, everyone 🎉

Masiya 06 September 2025
Deragatory slang which means to have sexual intercourse, bang .
Example

my Gee, Tommorow my chick will be visiting me, I can't wait to Ashkarine The Banganoy.

Siba da Ntsizwa (GI) 24 August 2025
Ayeye In some Southern African languages (e.g., Xhosa), it can mean "you're in trouble".
Example

Ayeye! The game is about to start!

tammy 11 August 2025
Izinganekwane izingxoxo ezazixoxwa ogogo/omama/omkhulu Kanye nobaba.Zaxoxelwa abantwana ngesikhathi sakudala.
Example

Umama uxoxela izingane zakhe inganekwane.

Pronunciation
by Siyanda Ndima
Siyanda Ndima 10 August 2025

031

031 is the dialling code for Durban. It can also be used to refer to Durban.
Example

I rep 031 till the day I die.

Zama 10 August 2025

011

011 is the Johannesburg dialling code. It can also used to refer to Johannesburg.
Example

I rep 011 till I die!

Zama 10 August 2025
Umpu is a Xhosa word for a gun.
Example

Ndifuna umpu wam
I want my gun.

OD 26 July 2025
Currency of South Africa (ZAR) issued by the South African Reserve Bank. 1 Rand = 100 cents.
Example

The rand is also used in Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini through monetary agreements.

Travel Admin 21 July 2025

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